Police: Suspects returned to scene

Jeong Im’s killer or killers most likely returned to the scene of the crime about one hour after the slaying to set the 72-year-old MU researcher’s car on fire, MU police said Thursday.

After weeks of investigation, police have also narrowed down the time of Im’s stabbing to sometime between 10:30 and 10:45 a.m. on Jan. 7. His body was found by police in the trunk of his 1995 Honda at 12:24 p.m. on the third level of the Maryland Avenue parking garage on the MU campus.

“We don’t have anything that would narrow the motive to a premeditated murder or robbery,” said Police Capt. Brian Weimer on Thursday.

Police also asked for the public’s help in identifying an older, multi-colored truck or sport utility vehicle, which was seen near the garage’s third level around 11:57 a.m. on Jan. 7. The vehicle is believed to be tan or cream-colored, with an orange front fender and a blue driver’s side door. The two male occupants of what police described as an “older farm vehicle” are not considered suspects in the murder, Weimer said.

Police are still looking for “a person of interest” between 6 feet and 6 feet 2 inches tall who was seen in the area of Maryland Avenue between noon and 1 p.m. on Jan. 7. The individual is believed to have been carrying some type of gas can and may have been wearing a painter’s or drywall mask, police said.

Anyone with information should call MU police at 882-7203 or CrimeStoppers at 875-TIPS.